Safety switch fob automobiles



Oct. 6, 1936. w. A. WIMMER SAFETY SWITCH FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed July 12,1934 PI El 1,

IGNITION S ITCH DISTR$BUTOR INVENTOR.

ILLI MR.W1I-IMEIR l AhoRNEYs.

Patented Oct. 6, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in switches and has particularreference to an automatic. switch for closing the circuit to performcertain functions under certain conditions.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a mercury switchwhich when installed upon a motor vehicle will sound an alarm if thevehicle is moved.

A further object is to construct the device in such a manner that if thevehicle is moved under its own power as for instance, by bridging thecustomary ignition switch then the vehicle will miss fire and cause suchan interrupted action that the car will shortly break down or the.person removing the car would quickly abandon the same.

Another object is to produce a device wherein should the vehicle tipbeyond a certain limit the engine will be stopped.

A still further object is to provide means whereby it the vehicle shouldentirely tip over, not only will the engine stop but the horn will alsobe sounded so as to call help.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of thefollowing description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view of the preferred form of my device andshowing a schematic wiring system, and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of a portion of a modifiedform of my device.

In the accompanying drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration isshown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates acasing having insulating end pieces 6 and I attached thereto in anyconvenient manner. Gaskets are shown at 8 whereby the device is sealedand a vacuum valve 9 is attached to the chamber thus formed. Extendingthrough the bottom of the chamber is an adjustment plug H whichregulates the sensitivity of the device. Extending through the top ofthe chamber are terminals I2, l3 and M. The casing 5 is grounded at I6.Attached to the terminal I 4 is a rod H which attaches to a plate l8.Insulation l9 surrounds the rod I! and insulates the rod from a plate2|, which is electrically connected by a rod 22 to the terminal |2. Aplate 23, of substantlally the inside diameter of the chamber, isattached to the rod 22 and held in proper position by a spacer 24. Acontact 26 is attached to the terminal l3 and is insulated from anyelectrical connection with the terminals i2 and It. At A I have shown aconventional distributor, at B a conventional coil, at C an ordinaryignition switch, at D a horn button, at E the horn, and at F thebattery, the distributor ground being 5 shown at G.

In the modified form, the parts perform the same functions and are,therefore, given the same numbers and a prime added thereto so that theplate It] prime corresponds to the plate l8 of the 1 preferred form. Thescrew H in the modified form when screwed into the body of mercury, willraise the level of the mercury and bring it closer to the plates |8prime and 2| prime. The screw II in the preferred form has a cone- 15shaped head, and, consequently, the mercury will be thrown upwardlyalong the head into contact with the plates l8 and 2|. This form of headprovides for a very sensitive adjustment, if desired.

The operation of my device is as follows:--

Assuming that the switch H is closed, current will flow from the groundthrough the switch thence through the wire 21 to the sensitivity setscrew II, to the mercury 28 in the chamber. Now, if the car, upon whichthe device is mounted, is jarred, the mercury will establish a circuitbetween the screw I I and the plate l8, thence the current will flowthrough the rod terminal I4, wire 29, switch H, wire 3| to wire 32 toone side of the horn E thence to one side of the wire 33, battery F andground of the battery, which will cause the horn to sound and thissounding will take place each time when the circuit is completed betweenthe mercury and plate |8. Should the 35 motor be running, then themercury will also complete a circuit to the plate 2|, thence through therod 22 to terminal l2 and by wire 34 to the wire 36, thus shorting outthe ignition every time the circuit is completed between the mercury andplate 2|. This will cause the misfiring of the engine so badly that itwill be practically useless for transportation purposes. When the switchH is opened the car may be run normally, but in case of accident whichmay upset the normal 45 level of the car, current will flow from thepermanent ground IS on the device to the mercury, thence to the disc 2|thence by terminal I2 and wire 34 to the ignition system againshort-circuiting the distributor system and stopping the motor.

When the car is turned over on its side the mercury will complete acircuit from the permanent ground to the plate 23 thence to the terminal|2 again permanently stopping the engine. 55

Should the car be turned over upon its top then the mercury willcomplete the circuit between the plate 23 and the ground, and also themercury will complete a circuit'between the contact 26 and the ground.This will not only stop the motor but will also cause the sounding ofthe horn, thus drawing attention to the overturned car.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 2, the arrangement of parts isidentical with the exception that a difierent form of disc is employed.The discs which perform the same function are given correspondingnumbers.

It will thus be seen that I have produced a device which Will preventthieves from stealing the car by not only giving an audible Warning, butby short-circuiting the motor spasmodically so as to produce a jerkyaction, and I have also" provided a device which under normal runningconditions will give an alarm should the car turn over and will alsointerrupt the engine should the car tip beyond a predetermined angle. aIt is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and thatvarious changes relative to the material,

curved plates insulated from each other and centrally positioned abovethe bottom of said chamber, a-conductor electrically connected to eachof said plates and extending to a point outside of said chamber/a secondplate spaced from said first mentioned plates and connected to one ofsaid conductors, and a contact mounted at the top of said chamber andelectrically connected to a point outside of said chamber, whereby whensaid device is turned upon its side or top said plates will be engagedby said fluid to. complete an electrical circuit for the purposedesignated.

. WILLIAM :A. vWIMMER.

